Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 28: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Friday slammed Home Minister Amit Shah over his argument for extending the President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months.
Earlier today, Shah moved a statuary resolution in the Lok Sabha, extending the President's Rule for another six months with effect from July 3, 2019. While moving the resolution, Shah argued that as the Election Commission has decided to hold fresh elections, it was essential to continue the President's Rule.
Speaking in the lower house, Shah said that during the President's Rule in the state, the Centre has been able to hit at the roots of terrorism. "The state has seen bloodshed in previous elections but things have changed," Shah asserted.
During his speech, Shah hit out at the Congress, saying so far Article 356 (President's Rule) has been imposed 132 times of which the opposition party used it 93 times to dismiss state governments.
However, the argument did go down well with Omar Abdullah who said that just because Congress used Article 356 more doesn't justify BJP's move to deny the people of Jammu and Kashmir an elected government. "That's an unacceptable argument," Omar tweeted.
Worth mentioning is that Jammu and Kashmir has been under President's Rule since December last year after the tenure of Governor's Rule ended. The state does not have an elected dispensation since the PDP-BJP coalition government fell apart in June 2018.
Early this month, the Election Commission said it will announce the schedule of assembly polls in the state after the Amarnath Yatra concludes. The pilgrimage, which will begin on July 1, will conclude on August 15.
During his speech in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah a scathing attack on Congress, accusing if for the current situation in the valley. Shah also alleged that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's decisions were behind India losing one-third of its territory to Pakistan.
"Today one-third of Kashmir is not with us. Who announced ceasefire when Pakistan encroached in Kashmir after independence and occupied one-third of its territory. Jawaharlal Nehru announced ceasefire and Pakistan took away that part of Kashmir," he said in his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha. |
